Your homes and parishes traditionally resound with carols and pastoral visits are in progress. May these events help you to be an open Church, reaching out to those who no longer participate in parish life – said Pope Francis, greetings the Polish pilgrims present during the Wednesday general audience.

The full text of the greeting follows:

I extend my warmest greetings to the Poles present here! Your homes and parishes traditionally resound with carols and pastoral visits are in progress. May these events help you to be an open Church, reaching out to those who no longer participate in parish life. Many priests and communities are concerned about those who are leaving and, thinking of them, remember them all the more in prayer. Let us ask for all of you the grace of a strong faith and the gift of pastoral zeal for priests. I bless you from all my heart.

vaticannews / Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference